Solo Performance Review

Maria fights in Tall Johnny's Pit

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy roleplay forums. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

Moderator: Morose

Performance Review

Postby Maria Talwa on February 25th, 2019, 9:28 pm

Image

37, Winter, 518

Although Maria had heard about Tall Johnny's Casino and Cage Fights, she'd not stopped by to visit, at least until today. She was in the mood to be violent, but decided to limit it to a possible cage fight for once. It was still early in morning, so there weren't a lot of people around when she walked in through the double doors on the left. Even though it was her first visit, Maria knew which side was which, from hearing people in town talking about it. Inside she stopped to look around at the large amphitheater style seating around the pit in the floor. Checking everything over carefully, she smirked a little, thinking this would be fun.

She saw Johnny some distance off in a small office style room. He was counting money at a small desk, and flanked by two very large, very heavily armed mercs. Still glancing around at the large and well lit room, Maria could just imagine what it would be like to fight with a large crowd cheering her on. That idea brought a smile to her face, then it faded as she reached the door. Knocking gently to get his attention, Johnny had a handful of gold miza that were being counted. He held up a finger, finished counting what was in his hand, dropped it into a pouch, wrote on the ledger in front of him, then looked up at her.

“Something I can do for young lady?” As he had been every time Maria had seen him, Johnny was dressed in fine clothing, his short hair was combed, and had a very neatly waxed mustache. For an older gentlemen he was quite handsome to Maria, wealth aside. However that was neither here nor there. She'd come to fight in the Pit and spill some blood. She also noticed that he had a fairly interesting accent, though she couldn't place where it might have come from.

“I'm here to fight in the pit.” Johnny maintained a fairly blank expression, but pursed his lips a little.

“You do realize the pit isn't for the faint of heart, Miss...” Maria was used to people underestimating her due to only being 5'4” and of slender build, so she didn't blow up.

“Maria Talwa. Put me in the pit, I'll show you just how 'faint' my heart is.” With her arms now folded across her chest, Maria gave the man a determined look, letting him know just how serious she was. Johnny sat there quietly, and seemed to be mulling the idea over in his mind.

Image

A moment later he snapped his fingers, and one of the large bodyguards leaned down. Johnny said something she didn't catch, to which the man gave a small nod and walked out. That made Maria curious as to what was going on, but if he'd wanted to be overhead, what was said would have been done so louder. She kept quiet, and waited for him to say something else to her.

“Before I put you in front of a crowd, I'll need to see you in action for myself Ms. Talwa. Mern, show the young lady to the pit.” The other bodyguard nodded, then walked out, and Maria quickly followed after him. Taken down a set of stairs to the first floor, where the employee and servant quarters were located, they walked down a few halls before Mern opened a door leading into the pit. By the time she stepped onto the floor, Johnny was already sitting in one of the seats above. As before his expression was neutral, but both elbows were on the armrests of the seat, handing meeting at the top to make a little triangle.

WC: 619
Image
Maria Talwa
Little Miss Vicious
 
Posts: 104
Words: 116966
Joined roleplay: February 28th, 2016, 7:30 am
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets

Performance Review

Postby Maria Talwa on February 25th, 2019, 9:29 pm

Image


The man who walked in through the other set of doors was far from what she was expecting. Instead of a warrior, or some other sort of fighter, the young man who was shoved through the door, appeared to be about her age. Unarmed, the man was scared out of his mind, and taking one look at Maria and her short swords, she slammed into the door behind him trying to get out. When that didn't work, he looked up at Johnny.

“I'll get you the money, I swear, I just need a little more time, please!” The only response to come was one of the bodyguards reappearing at the door behind him long enough to toss a sword into the pit. The weapon plopped down on the ground, and he looked at it for a moment. It was obvious what was going on. The man had failed to repay some money owed, and was now being used for target practice. Instead of being insulted, she figured this test was starting from the very bottom.

Still scared out of his mind, the young man picked up the longsword and unsheathed it, tossing the cover aside. Holding it front of him with both hands, Maria wondered if he would drop it, or quake his way out of his boots first. Either was a good bet. Hands on her own weapons and chin lifted, she began to circle slowly, watching him move in a slow circle as well. It didn't seem likely that he'd ever used a weapon like this before, so it wouldn't be much of a test.

Maria jerked forward as if to charge, causing her opponent to jump back a step. Pulling her own blades free with a slow hiss, she held them underhand style, then did charge forward the second time. Making a quick slash for the stomach, the attack missed, but not due to any particular skill. The young man jumped back again like a scared cat, then drew his weapon back to attack. The swing was slow, and came in overhead to the point he might as well have announced his intention. All she had to do was lean out of the way.

The recovery was also slow enough for Maria to lean in and slice his side. The wound wasn't deep, but he yelped, and nearly dropping the sword. The only reason he wasn't in five different pieces already was partly to show Johnny she knew how to handle her weapons. That and since he owed some money, she figured it would be good sport to make him suffer a little. When he tried for a side slash, she blocked with one blade, and cut him across the stomach with the other. This wound was deeper, and he did drop the sword when struck this time. Staggering back and holding his stomach, the young man looked down at the blood soaking his hand. Picking the longsword back up, he held out a second time and seemed a little steadier.
Image
Maria Talwa
Little Miss Vicious
 
Posts: 104
Words: 116966
Joined roleplay: February 28th, 2016, 7:30 am
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets

Performance Review

Postby Maria Talwa on February 25th, 2019, 9:29 pm

Image


“I'm not going down without a fight.”

“Yes, you are,” Maria said. When he tried a thrust, the blade was deflected with one short sword, then she used the other to slice him across the chest. This one was deep enough to be considered a potentially deadly wound. As he staggered back, Maria followed through by stabbing him in the leg. With a yell he dropped down on both knees, and she walked around behind him placing both swords across his neck, then looked up to Johnny. Seeing him make a casual dismissive gesture, she jerked the blades apart, separating head from shoulders without hesitation. As the blood splashed her face and clothing, the body fell to one side, and the head went rolling across the floor.

“How about a real challenge?” Seemingly unphased by any of this, Johnny snapped his finger, and the doors on the opposite side of the arena opened not long after. The new opponent that walked out, as the arena was cleared, seemed to be more at home here then her last. Of average height and decent build, he wore only a pair of pants and boots, but she noticed he also hand metal gauntlets and greaves. Bald and without a weapon, it took a moment for Maria to realize that he used an unarmed combat style. This would certainly be interesting, if nothing else. When he started to dance around a little, she responded with a smirk.

Maria attacked first, coming in with three quick slashes. They were all blocked with the metal gloves before she took a punch square to the face. Stumbling back and blinking a little, she shook her head and looked at him. He smirked and motioned her forward with a hand. Her opponent was definitely cocky. Seeing that he wouldn't be a pushover, Maria stepped her game up, and spun one of the blades to an overhand position. Accepting the challenge she came at him with a quick slash that was blocked.

Following this she used the underhand blade to defend, and they went into a quick series of punches and slashes, without either landing a blow. Then he brought up a knee that connected with Maria's chest and pushed her back, then extended his leg into a full kick that landed as well. Staggering back, she fell on her butt, but didn't stay there long. This bald twerp was getting on her nerves now. Maria had no intention of being bested on the second round of this little performance review. Dropping back into her own fighting stance, it was time to be unusual.

Going back to double underhand, she got in close with the unarmed fighter, slashing and blocking, then blew in his face. It caused him to blink as a reflex, and that was all the opening that was needed. First her own knee came up between his legs hard enough for one to almost hear the crunch when it connected, followed by slashing a blade across the chest as he staggered back. As he fell to the ground, Maria tried to stomp on him, only to have the young man roll out of the way. He kicked his feet out and whipped into a kneeling position, then tried to sweep her legs with a foot.

WC: 549
Image
Maria Talwa
Little Miss Vicious
 
Posts: 104
Words: 116966
Joined roleplay: February 28th, 2016, 7:30 am
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets

Performance Review

Postby Maria Talwa on February 25th, 2019, 9:30 pm

Image


Maria lifted her leg out of the way and stepped back, and he recovered as well. The three hits she'd taken were starting to sting, and he had a hand over the chest wound, with a noticeable limp as well. The cocky smirk was gone, and she could tell from his expression that the slash was a painful one. Now it was time to see how well he could handle pain, as a wound like that would make punching quite uncomfortable. He raced forward and coming in with more punches, despite the pain, Maria blocked, and was about to counter. Before that happened, he threw a hand out into her peripheral vision.

This time it was Maria who looked over as a reflex, catching a jab, jab, hook, combo for the distraction. When the stars cleared, she was stomach down on the ground with a bloody nose and busted lip. Both swords were laying on the ground, and she looked back to see him waiting for her to get up. Whoever this person was, he wasn't from Sunberth. Anyone else would have capitalized on an opening like that. It was obvious that he had some tricks as well, and swords in hand again, she stood up only to stagger back a little. The blows had hit harder than she thought, and Maria briefly had to rebalance herself.

In her mind it was time to end this fight, so she decided to come at her opponent full speed. Slashing quickly, but without any wide or flashy moves, the two were at it again. He blocked as before, but this time when his leg came up for a knee strike, it was met with a fist. The blow injured his knee, but also Maria's hand, causing her to drop her sword. When he winced, she headbutted. The blow broke his nose and sent the other fighter tumbling to the ground. With the sword in her right hand, she raised it to strike as the unarmed fighter fell, then stopped hearing fingers snap. She looked back to see Johnny making a small patting gesture, indicating he didn't want this one dead. Maria flipped the sword overhand and stuck the tip up under his chin.

“You lose.” Her opponent accepted the loss seemingly without malice. After resetting his nose, the unarmed fight stood and walked out. Now with a bloody nose, busted lip, sore chest, and hand, she turned to look at Tall Johnny. “So how'd I do?”

“Why don't you ask him?” Johnny causally pointed to the doors behind Maria, and looked in that direction. Hearing them open, and surprised that there was a third opponent, she turned to face the new challenger. This one gave her pause. The man was over six foot tall, nearly as wide, and had bushy brown hair with a beard and mustache that appeared to only be combed occasionally. In one hand he carried a metal staff taller than he was, and as thick around as her arm. To Maria it looked like they'd taken a mountain man and shoved him into a suit of leather armor.

WC: 520
Image
Maria Talwa
Little Miss Vicious
 
Posts: 104
Words: 116966
Joined roleplay: February 28th, 2016, 7:30 am
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets

Performance Review

Postby Maria Talwa on February 25th, 2019, 9:31 pm

Image


There were two advantages her opponent had that Maria could already see. The staff gave him considerable reach, and it could easily be used to block two swords. Regardless of that fact, she wanted to fight in the Pit, and wasn't about to show a yellow streak over a size and reach advantage. If he was as dangerous with that staff as he looked, that meant there was about only one way Maria might be able to win. That was to force the man back and keep him on the defensive. Drawing both swords, she ran straight at him with that in plan in mind.

Swords swinging, they quickly met metal as the man blocked repeatedly, showing that he was quite skilled with weapon. The attacks weren't getting through, but he was on the defensive, she she tried to press the offensive and force him to give ground. She turned out to be the one who gave ground, when he slammed the center of the staff into her chest. Staggering back, Maria managed to avoid falling over this time. The man stood there, staff in hand, and seemed to be waiting for her.

“Nice try girly, but ah'm standin' mah ground.” This man had a very unusual accent as well, making Maria wonder exactly where he was from. “Ye can forfeit if ye want, no shame in admittin' ye'er not up ta the challenge.”

“I'll forfeit when I'm dead!” Putting on a considerable burst of speed with her next assault, Maria slashed at the man with both blades trying to overwhelm him with speed, but was again unable to get past the staff. When he swung one side at her face, she ducked, and slashed at his stomach. To her surprise he let go of the staff with one hand, and used it to grab hers. When the arm moved again, it was out to the side. Maria was picked up off her feet and thrown into the wall behind him. Disoriented by the attack, she shook her head and looked up just in time to see a flash of silver.

When her eyes fluttered open again, the large man was walking out of the arena, and Maria realized that she'd been briefly knocked out by the attack. Considering how strong the man was, and that he was using a metal staff, she knew he'd held back. A blow like that could have easily killed her. Losing was the one thing that Maria did not like, not in the least. Nevertheless the match was over, and she was the one on the ground. Blinking a few more times to clear her senses, she stood up carefully, collected her weapons, and turned to face Johnny to await his verdict.

“You did better than I thought you would, I'll give that. You're welcome to fight in the pit if you want, but you've still got a ways to go if you want a place in one of the main events.” With the performance review out of the way, Johnny stood up and walked away. Things hadn't gone quite as well as Maria had hoped, but being allowed to fight in the Pit was getting her foot in the door. She took his advice for what it was, and decided to brush up on her sword work a little before going up against a serious opponent.

WC: 563
Total: 2,755
Image
Maria Talwa
Little Miss Vicious
 
Posts: 104
Words: 116966
Joined roleplay: February 28th, 2016, 7:30 am
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets

Performance Review

Postby Orakan on April 13th, 2019, 7:40 am

Image

ImageMaria
Image

Skills
● Observation - 5XP
● Socialisation - 2XP
● Deduction - 1XP
● Acrobatics - 3XP
● Dual-wield - 2XP
● Intelligence - 2XP
● Tactics - 1XP

Lores
● Location: Tall Johnny's
● Acrobatics: Evading a slow swing from a longsword
● Dual-wield: Block with one blade and slash with the other
● Dual-wield: Using an underhand grip to block
● Pit fighting: Fight dirty to win
● The advantages a metal staff has over dual short swords

Injuries
Broken eye socket and cheek bone
Broken nose
Two cracked premolars and one broken/missing incisor
Loads of bruises and swelling
Concussion

You got battered by metal gauntlets and a metal staff.. Maria's face is not good.
She will require medical treatment for the bones to heal and not get septic
Bruising and swelling will go down after 10 days
Potential to heal within seven weeks if treatment is sought

Rewards
Permission to be a pit fighter at Tall Johnny's

ImageComments
Image

Please don't metagame. Maria wouldn't know who Tall Johnny was. She is definitely more than able to guess or assume the man counting coin with guards flanking him is the guy but do not say she knows it's him. The language you use and how you go about your character knowing things is very important and, as of now, you've done nothing but make Maria seem as if she knows just about everything she's encountered when her skills and knowledges show otherwise. Also, OP/powerplayed skills and actions are not being awarded. I'm a volunteer trying to help and assist and grade. I shouldn't have to tell someone who has been around for sometime how the game works. The rules are clear. Please follow them. Thank you.
Image
“The means to every crime is ours,
and we employ them all,
we multiply the horror a hundredfold.”

Image Image
User avatar
Orakan
Lost Boy
 
Posts: 183
Words: 101764
Joined roleplay: July 7th, 2015, 1:52 am
Location: Sunberth
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Mizahar Grader (1)


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests